Raheem Sterling and Chelsea have reached a personal agreement, and his transfer from Manchester City is now certain.

The England international, who was at the top of Thomas Tuchel's list of potential offensive targets, was in the final year of his contract with City, who are appreciative of his service and will not stand in the way of his desire for more playing time and prominence elsewhere.
Pep Guardiola has frequently said, "I don't like to keep players who are unhappy," and he was willing to let Sterling leave this summer, even to a Premier League competitor, if a reasonable offer in the neighborhood of £50 million was put forth.

To solve Chelsea's goal-scoring problems, Tuchel was keen to add a decisive edge in the last third, and new Blues owner Todd Boehly had been in touch with City to negotiate money and the specifics of a transaction.

Sterling would provide Tuchel with a reliable threat, tactical versatility, and experience. He has directly contributed to a total 165 goals in the league in 320 games for Liverpool and City.
The 27-year-old intends to significantly contribute both on and off the field since he feels his career is at a pivotal point.

The fact that City can confidently cede two attackers to the "Big Six" teams—Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal for £45 million and Sterling to Stamford Bridge—shows both the strength of their recruitment strategy and the distance between the clubs.
As top-tier European teams struggle to compete financially with their English counterparts, intra-league transfers are expected to increase.

Sterling is a contentious subject for Chelsea supporters, but he would revitalize the offense.
Liam Twomey of The Athletic on Sky Sports News:

"I believe the deal has the potential to benefit all parties. Since Sterling has lost his job at Manchester City, has one year remaining on his contract, and doesn't appear to have many suitors except Chelsea, he needs a change of scenery.

Given the financial stakes, I believe that many of the major Premier League teams are currently going through a situation where they may find it easier to sell to one another than to anybody else. In particular, after allowing Romelu Lukaku to return to Inter on loan, Chelsea need a method to restock their offensive alternatives.

"While Raheem Sterling may not be the most exotic or exciting name to certain Chelsea supporters, he is a vital England international, a 27-year-old Premier League veteran, and I believe the new owners also want to make a statement. He would undoubtedly be a valuable addition.

"I believe Sterling is a target that divides Chelsea supporters a little bit, in part because he is so well-known. We have been following him for so long in the Premier League that we are familiar with both his skills and weaknesses as a player, and I believe that influences how many Chelsea supporters see him. But there is no doubting that he has played for elite clubs in this league for a very, very long period, and I believe it makes him a very trustworthy performance.

"Chelsea is becoming more open to considering players with a track record in the Premier League. A couple of years ago, they made the mistake of recruiting players from other leagues who may have needed some time to adjust or, in some cases, never really adjusted at all and did not fully contribute to the club.

"You can see why Chelsea may be interested in someone like Sterling, who has consistently performed at a high level in the Premier League for many years, and who is a well-known player for Boehly. And even at the age of 27, you might anticipate him to continue working hard for a while."